College Life

Lately it seems like most of us college students are wanting to skip class. At least, that's how it seems from where I'm standing. Sometimes it feels like college will NEVER end, and the next day it feels like we're about to be pushed out into the world. Talk about a roller coaster! My only advice is to stay ahead on things, otherwise everything attacks you at once...yes, I know that by experience! =P Live life to the fullest, take care of business but have fun. You can't survive college without friends...so make a few, and make sure you stay in touch. Friends are the best possible thing when it comes to those "Please don't make me go to class" days. Enjoy it while you can, we all know "the real world" is waiting! =)

2011 Bobby Boatright Western Swing Music Camp

Ok, so before all the "Last summer, at band camp..." comments start, I'd like to say that both last summer, and this summer, I had an absolute blast! I'd also like to let yall in on a little secret...this isn't your ordinary "band" camp at all. The only instruments you'll see in these classrooms are fiddles and guitars. Occasionally at the nightly jam sessions we'll have a few locals come join in with their instruments, and we say the more the merrier!

This camp is held annually the first full week after the 4th of July. This year it was the 10th-14th, and for those of you that remember that the 10th was a Sunday, let me explain. Classes began the morning of the 11th, but there was a pre-camp meet & greet on Sunday evening along with a meal. This also allowed everyone to get their stuff settled in their rooms or plug in their travel trailers and get the air conditioning started. =) The location for this is in Goree, Tx. Yep, I bet yall weren't expecting something this interesting in Knox County! The Knox Prairie Event Center was the Goree school once upon a time. Things have changed up a little bit, and now it's an excellent place to host events, and fits the needs of the camp almost perfectly.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served Monday through Wednesday; Thursday only lunch and dinner were served. After breakfast all the campers, including myself, went to a 3-hour playing session in our individual classes. Now I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I'm usually not my best at 9am. So imagine this: A classroom with 1 teacher, 4 students, and 5 fiddles from 9am-12pm. Yep, you guessed it - there was a little bit of squeaking & funny noise going on! Of course, I forgot to tell you the most important part...the classroom you just imagined had 4 BEGINNER students. Then of course classes were offered for more advanced fiddlers, as well as beginner and advanced guitar. Lunch was served from noon to 1pm. Afternoon classes were from 1-4, with dinner being served from 6-7pm. After dinner everyone gathered around for nightly jam sessions that are open to the public.

The Beginner Fiddle Class with instructor Mr. Jess Meador =)

(Jess had to put up with having all girls for a day! Then we had Harold join.)

After over 21 hours of playing instruments, I think it's safe to say we were all a little tired. However, I honestly believe it's just as safe to say that we all had a blast and would be more than happy to have stayed longer, had that been a possibility. Now, for anyone thinking about joining the fun next year...let me give you a few key details. All ages are accepted, we don't care if you're 12 years old or 112 years young, we'd love to have you along for the ride! You can keep in touch and stay updated here: Bobby Boatright Western Swing Music Camp.

Now I'd like to go into a little more detail about camp from my view. =) Camp students stayed "on campus" at the Knox Prairie Event Center, while instructors stayed "off campus". The younger girls had their own dorm, while the "big girls" enjoyed sharing a room. The same went for the boys & men. Each dorm room had access to 2 restrooms, complete with showers, and control of their own air conditioning. Excluding the dorm rooms, everywhere on campus was shared space. The cafeteria, kitchen, dining hall, (whatever you wish to call it) was the space where you were most likely to find large groups hanging out - especially on a hot day! You never knew who you'd find playing cards, grabbing a snack, or just hanging out in the cafeteria. Groups of all ages would get together to enjoy their afternoon free time.

So, 6 hours of class a day? Yes we're serious...& yes our fingers were sore! Can you imagine 21 hours of playing time in 4 days??? Sounds crazy, I know. Hey, maybe we are crazy! But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy every minute of it, so I'll just stay crazy if that's alright. =) Some of you may be wondering how on earth you find enough songs to play for 21 hours, and I'll admit it's a good question. When you're a beginner, like I am, though you focus on learning where to put your fingers and how to read the music (if you need it). There's a lot of repetition, especially when it comes to playing the songs...but I'm pretty sure the "Practice Makes Permanent" saying is a good way to sum it up! *For any beginners out there - my best advice is don't focus on making it sound perfect when you first start, focus on getting your fingerings/chords/whatever you may use right, then focus on sounding right later on.* Talking about songs though, I can't really speak for the more advanced classes, I can only speak for mine. The main songs the beginner fiddle class focused on were: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Ol' Joe Clark, and Little 'Liza Jane. Other songs that could be heard cross-campus included: Sentimental Journey, Tennessee Waltz, Milk Cow Blues, Spanish Two-Step, Westphalia Waltz, Cherokee Maiden, Old Fashioned Love, Lone Star Beer, and Varsoviana. Varsoviana, for those of you that don't know, is what most Texans call "Put Your Little Foot". I'm sure I'm forgetting some songs, but there is a very wide range of things that are played. But hey, if you'd like to know - why don't you come join us next year? We'd love to have you!